Ariana Grande's surprise comment on Ethan Slater cheating rumours as ex-wife breaks her silence

When rumours were rife that Ariana Grande was secretly dating her married Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, the 'Thank U Next' singer was quickly branded a 'home-wrecker' by critics.

Since then, despite going on to confirm their romance and divorce to their previous partners, the pair have only briefly discussed the controversial move when chatting to press.

Now, however - following the release of an explosive piece written by Slater's former flame Lilly Jay - where she accuses a certain hit-making 'celebrity' of having ended her marriage - fans have been looking back at a series of comments made by Grande on the matter.

For those out of the loop with the love-triangle, Slater and wife Jay married in 2018, but had been together since teens, when he allegedly 'left' her for his musical cast-mate.

They went on to welcome a beautiful baby together four years later in 2022.

Slater announced earlier this year, however - amid mass speculation about the status of the co-stars' relations - that he was seeking a divorce from Jay, citing 'irreconcilable differences' as his reasoning.

It was also around this time that Grande sensationally divorced now ex-husband Dalton Gomez, and just weeks later, the 'Boq' actor and the 'Glinda the Good' star went official with their 'new' love.

Only on a handful of occasions since have either Slater, 32, or Grande, 31, addressed the colossal falling out, including in one conversation the actress had with Vanity Fair in September, where she claimed that the decision to go public with their romance wasn't one they took lightly.

"It definitely doesn’t get any easier, seeing some of the negativity that was birthed by disreputable tabloids," she claimed back in September, two months before the cinematic adaptation was first released.

Slater is now in a relationship with Ariana Grande (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Opting not to address her personal life explicitly, the former Victorious star went on to explain: "Of course, I went through a lot of life changes during the filming of this movie. A lot of people that were working on it did.

"We were away for two years. So, of course, I understand why it was a field day for the tabloids to sort of create something that paid their bills."

Grande also hinted at the past speculation that she and Slater's romance had begun before they each divorced their partners, adding: "The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it," the told the publication.

"That was definitely a tough ride."

In the interview, Grande also addressed the criticism that Slater had been subjected to since they went public, a lot of which was aimed at his role as a father.

"There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about him," she told the publication.

"No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about.

"There is no one on this earth with a better heart, and that is something that no b******t tabloid can rewrite in real life."

Lilly Jay spoke about the split this week (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

The 'Side To Side' chart-topper added of her own battle with speculation: "Honestly, it’s taken me a lot of hard work to be able to last this long and to heal certain parts of my relationship to fame and to what I do because of these tabloids that have been trying to destroy me since I was 19 years old.

"But you know what? I’m 31 years old and I’m not a perfect person, but I am definitely deeply good, and I’m proud of who I’m becoming.

"I will never let disreputable evil tabloids ruin my life or my perception of what is real and good."

As we say, the singer/actress' comments have resurfaced since Slater's now ex-wife Lilly James issued a dramatic message about the breakdown of her own marriage.

Jay - who works as a clinical psychologist in perinatal mental health and child development - began by recounting: "I really never thought I would get divorced.

"Especially not just after giving birth to my first child and especially not in the shadow of my husband’s new relationship with a celebrity."

The mum-of-one did seem to hold onto some hope of a better life, however, writing: "Slowly but surely, I have come to believe that in the absence of the life I planned with my high-school sweetheart, a lifetime of sweetness is waiting for me and my child."